Parents, coaches press Peninsula School District on field maintenance; district outlines summer facilities upgrades and turf project
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Summary
A public commenter criticized turf maintenance and high irrigation at district fields. Facilities staff described summer upgrades including DDC HVAC control upgrades, inclusive playground installations, auditorium lighting work, property demolition, and planning for a Lower Gig Harbor turf field.
A parent and youth-sports coach criticized Peninsula School District field maintenance and irrigation at the board's Sept. 23 meeting, saying routine problems persist. Facilities staff described multiple summer projects and gave a status update on a planned Lower Gig Harbor turf conversion.
"There's been a whole summer to deal with holes that kids have dug... they're still out there as ankle breakers," Michael Perot of the Gig Harbor Peninsula Youth Sports Coalition told the board during public comment. Perot said the district lacks clear records for mowing and maintenance and cited irrigation-meter figures, saying one meter recorded roughly 1,990,000 gallons over four months while Harbor Ridge averages 1,600,000 gallons annually.
Patrick Gillespie and other facilities staff gave a summer projects briefing that included security-vehicle electric-charging infrastructure and cantilever fencing; replacement of older DDC controls on HVAC systems (Harbor Heights completed; Goodman scheduled soon); Peninsula auditorium lighting upgrades; and inclusive playground installations at Harbor Heights and Purdy with rubber surfacing. Gillespie said the Lower Gig Harbor turf project has completed geotechnical surveys and a pre-op meeting with the city is set for Oct. 8.
Facilities staff also noted property acquisitions and house demolitions on district land to remove nuisance structures, and a partnership with Gig Harbor Fire Medic 1 on recent training activity. The presentation listed capital work done over the summer and compliance tasks typically completed during the break.
Board members asked whether the new turf field would include bleachers; Gillespie said seating plans would be discussed with the city and that adding too much seating could trigger additional ADA and restroom requirements. He said roofing and HVAC maintenance remain priorities across older buildings and noted the district is planning for Clean Buildings Act compliance, calling it an "unfunded mandate."
The board did not vote on facilities projects at the meeting. Jeff Yeager, a grounds technician recognized earlier in the meeting, received a district appreciation certificate during a recognition item; facilities staff noted crews had been working on site prep for new play equipment.
Public comment and the facilities briefing underscored community concern about field conditions and water use; the district said it will continue planning the turf project with the city and implement scheduled upgrades over the coming weeks.